GOP-ers and Dems flip on opinion of Bernanke

Republicans and Democrats have virtually flipped in their opinion of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke over the past year, a new Gallup poll released Friday found.

According to the poll, 64 percent of Democrats approve of the way Bernanke has handled his job, up from 40 percent last year. Meanwhile, 36 percent of Republicans say they now support Bernanke, down from 61 percent in 2008.

Gallup credited the flip, in part, to the the changeover in administrations, with Democrats now in control of the White House.

Independent voters remained stable in their opinions, with 44 percent expressing approval of Bernanke’s performance versus 43 percent the year before.

Overall, 49 percent of Americans said they felt a great deal or fair amount of confidence in Bernanke’s ability to handle the economy, while 35 percent said they had little or no confidence.

The poll, conducted April 6-9, has a three percent margin of error.